Chapter 969 Strong Contrast
Hindenburg was right about Charles.
The reason why Charles abandoned Saarbrücken and flew to Belgium alone to take charge of the situation was not because he gave up Saarbrücken, but because he was very confident in it.
At this point in the battle, Tijani is fully capable of handling the situation on his own, and there is no need for Charles to command from the rear.
In the eyes of William II, the 1st Panzer Army was an isolated and surrounded army.
It looks correct on the map.
Saarbrücken was semi-encircled by the German army, with only a narrow passage as a supply line.
As long as the German army entered the city and engaged the French army in hand-to-hand combat, they would soon be able to cut off the French army's supply lines with artillery fire.
As a result, the 1st Armored Army could only retreat from the minefield with the help of mine-clearing tanks.
In this way, the German army would not only be able to take the credit for defeating Charles's 1st Armored Army, but also be able to recapture Saarbrücken and re-stabilize the Hindenburg Line. Moreover, by defeating the French army in a short period of time, they could also dispatch troops to reinforce the Liege fortress.
Imagination is beautiful, but reality is cruel.
William II never expected that the 1st Panzer Army in Saarbrücken did not defend or retreat, but attacked.
While the German army was attacking Saarlücken, the French First Armored Army took advantage of the situation and launched a counterattack.
They used new tanks to lead the charge and severely defeated the German army at the beginning of the battle.
…
Telegrams poured in to the General Staff in Berlin.
William II looked at the telegram in disbelief and raised a series of questions in a low voice:
"Counterattack? What ability do they have to counterattack?"
"If the 1st Panzer Army launches a counterattack, who will defend Saarbrücken?"
"Saarbrücken is their retreat. They will lose all their supplies, and their tanks can only advance a few dozen kilometers at most..."
Hindenburg interrupted William II's fantasy by looking at the map: "Your Majesty, the French army is likely to cross the border in large numbers next."
"What?" William II looked at Hindenburg in surprise: "What do you mean by a large-scale border crossing?"
Hindenburg pointed at Freeman's position:
"From here, Your Majesty."
"We thought it was a supply line, but now it looks like that's not the case."
"Charles uses it as a passage: the French troops will continue to replenish the front line through this passage."
"then……"
William II understood.
It's a relay, like a long snake.
This meant that the French army completely abandoned the British and American forces and intended to defeat the German army on their own.
Therefore, even with the cooperation of the British and American troops, it would not work because the French army did not need them and Charles did not take them seriously.
Of course, Charles did not take the German army seriously.
…
Fremen Centipede Passage.
The French Third Armored Army, led by Tasigny, is rapidly heading to the battlefield via the highway. They will become the second echelon to attack the Ruhr industrial area:
The First Armored Army was in the front and the Third Armored Army was in the back. The two armored armies cooperated with each other and penetrated into the heart of the German army like a sharp knife.
Next to the road were fully armed infantrymen marching in formation. They were Foch's Northern Army Group.
The infantry's task was to follow up and defend: they would follow the 1st and 3rd Panzer Armies and take over all captured cities and fortifications, including Saarbrücken.
…
At the Freiman Joint Command, the panicked Haig sent an urgent telegram to Charles: "Lieutenant General, the battle has begun, and your troops are launching a large-scale attack. Is this your plan? You should come back to command immediately!"
He also found Pershing and said angrily: "Charles can't do this. We know nothing about his plan. It is obvious that he intends to take all the credit for defeating Germany!"
"General." Pershing said helplessly, "Don't you understand? Charles has seen through your conspiracy."
"What?" Haig looked at Pershing in astonishment, his eyes wandering: "I don't understand what you mean."
"You know what I'm talking about," Pershing replied:
"Don't even think about getting what you can't get on the battlefield at the negotiation table. Your problem is that you want something other than strength."
"Now, Charles is telling everyone with practical actions that France can easily defeat the enemy without Britain and the United States."
"So, do you still think you can benefit from this?"
Haig understood.
In order to cooperate with William II, Britain and the United States were defeated by the German army despite having absolute superiority.
Now, the French army was able to rely on itself, and just one of its units, to crush the German army like a landslide and defeat the British and American armies.
A sharp contrast, a strong comparison, and a completely asymmetrical outcome.
All of this is telling the world one message: the combat effectiveness of the British and American armies is far behind that of the French army. Even if the combined strength of the two is several times that of the French army, their combat effectiveness is less than one-tenth of that of the French army.
So, in this world where the strong prey on the weak, who cares about Britain and the United States?
Haig didn't dare to think any further. He found that Britain and the United States' small actions seemed to put the crown of the world's number one on Charles' head.
From now on, all countries in the world will follow France's lead.
If Britain was so weak that it could not even defeat the dying Germany, how could it have the ability to control its colonies?
Then, with the support and call of France, the colonies will raise their flags and declare independence!
…
General Staff, Berlin.
William II, with cold sweat on his forehead, suddenly remembered something. He nervously grabbed Hindenburg's arm and said, "Marshal, airplanes, we still have airplanes. The new type of airplane you mentioned can help us gain air superiority!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Hindenburg replied, "I have already sent it. Only..."
"Only what?" asked William II.
"In this case, the role it can play may be very limited." Hindenburg sighed:
"Even if the fighters succeeded in gaining air superiority, they would not be able to stop the French tanks from advancing."
"The French army was equipped with new tanks, which caused a huge psychological shock to our troops."
"Soldiers say this new tank can ignore infantry, tanks and all fortifications. It is a perfect war machine!"
The 75MM tank gun is a powerful weapon for destroying tanks and fortifications, including the German anti-tank guns.
The directional machine guns and coaxial machine guns could shoot German soldiers who tried to approach into sieves.
As a result, the German officers and soldiers suddenly didn’t know how to deal with this thing, and they were scared and ran away when they saw it from afar.
After thinking for a while, Hindenburg drew a line on the map:
"Dussel Village, I have mobilized three artillery regiments to assemble here."
"It is the only way for the French army to pass through."
"If we can gain air superiority here, and coordinate our air force with artillery, we may be able to stop them here!"
This is Charr's strategy:
Use air superiority to obtain artillery information, thereby giving artillery an advantage in artillery battles.
Once the artillery gains the upper hand, it can use artillery fire to destroy enemy tanks.
This is an effective tactic that may be able to stop the enemy's offensive!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
